Iran denounces EU blacklisting of Hezbollah's military wing

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran says the European Union's decision to blacklist the military wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah was "strange" and "uncalculated."

Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi told a news conference in Tehran Tuesday that the decision by the EU to place the Shiite militant group on its terror list serves Israel's interests and will only complicate the situation in the Middle East. Hezbollah is an ally of Iran.

Araghchi told reporters that the designation won't change Hezbollah's "popular and justice-seeking identity."

The EU's 28 foreign ministers made the decision Monday after prolonged diplomatic pressure from the United States, the Netherlands and Israel, who both consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization.